| Conclusion Summary |
|
Compliance Inspector (CI) Jessica Ibbotson conducted an investigation regarding the allegation that Director Smith told staff to cover the children's faces for the entire length of naptime of two hours so that they could not be seen or heard. After conducting the investigation, CI Ibbotson finds this allegation is substantiated. This conclusion is based on the following evidence of licensing rule violations which occurred at the facility:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)3. which states: "Only constructive, age-appropriate methods of discipline shall be used to help children develop self-control and assume responsibility for their own actions."
On June 27, 2023, CI Ibbotson interviewed Child D, Child E, Child F, Director Smith, Caregiver Coburn and Caregiver Gibson. Child D stated that her head was always covered with a blanket during naptime by her teachers and that she could not remove it until she fell asleep. Child E stated that her teachers covered her head with a blanket during naptime even though she did not like it because she wanted to get fresh air. Child F stated that her head was always covered during naptime with a blanket by her teachers. Caregiver Coburn and Caregiver Gibson both stated that they were directed by Director Smith to cover the heads of the children when taking a nap to help them fall asleep. Caregiver Coburn stated that if a child moved the blanket off of their head, she would immediately place it back over their head. Caregiver Coburn also stated that children would often times tell her they did not want their heads covered but she would do it anyway. Caregiver Gibson stated that as soon as a child fell asleep, she would remove the blanket from their head but if the child requested for their head to not be covered, she would not do it.
CI Ibbotson conducted a walkthrough of the facility during naptime and observed four children in Caregiver Coburn's 2-year-old classroom with their heads covered by blankets, five children in Caregiver Gibson and Caregiver Hudson's 3-year-old to 4-year-old classroom with their heads covered by blankets and three children in Caregiver Hernandez's 4-year-old to 5-year-old classroom with their heads covered by blankets and both preschool age classrooms, ages 3-year-old to 5-year-old with their heads covered by blankets. CI Ibbotson observed all children to be sleeping.
|